Is medical marijuana legal in North Carolina? What to know about NC's first dispensary – The Asheville Citizen Times
North Carolina’s first cannabis dispensary opened last week. The April 20 opening of the Great Smoky Cannabis Co. was attended by hundreds. Here’s your guide to medical marijuana in N.C.
“This project will change the trajectory of their lives forever. It will be a conduit to generations of social, economic, and spiritual growth, unlike anything that’s ever been witnessed,” Forrest Parker, general manager for Qualla Enterprises, said at the opening ceremony, Will Hofmann of the Citizen Times reported.
While the first N.C. dispensary is now officially open for business, the process of purchasing medical marijuana is not without terms and conditions. Here’s what to know about buying medical marijuana in N.C.
Marijuana is not legal for medical or recreational use in N.C. in general. It is legal, however, on the Qualla Boundary, home of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. In 2021, marijuana was legalized for medical use in Cherokee, which is a sovereign nation located on the Qualla Boundary that has its own elections, laws, government and institutions that are self-governed and autonomous. But those laws pertain only to tribal land.
Eligible individuals can submit applications for medical marijuana cards on the EBCI website. While you can purchase medical marijuana legally in Cherokee, it remains illegal to transport cannabis out of Cherokee. EBCI documents remind the public that a medical cannabis patient card does not prevent or act as a defense to prosecution by the Federal or North Carolina state government.
Outside of the Qualla Boundary, some low-THC products have been legalized in N.C. under a 2021 state law. The law allows the sale of products with no more than 0.3% of delta-9, allowing the sale of cannabinoids like THCa and CBD.
To qualify for a medical marijuana card in Cherokee, you must show proof of one or more of the following 17 conditions:
All patients must be 21 years or older to purchase medical cannabis. Fees for medical cannabis patient cards are $100 for N.C. residents and $50 for enrolled EBCI members. Cards must be renewed yearly at a rate of $100 for N.C. residents and $25 for EBCI members.
For more info on how to obtain a medical marijuana card, visit the EBCI’s website.
Nearly half of the states in the US have legalized cannabis according to previous reporting by USA Today, though N.C. is not included.
Here’s a list of the states in 2024 that have legalized recreational marijuana, and the year it was made official:
For the second straight year, the North Carolina Senate passed a medical marijuana bill, but in each of the last two years, the state House did not take up the legislation.
Will Hoffman, Asheville Citizen Times, contributed to this report.
Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.